Weatherly 620A accident near Cobb, Georgia, August 9, 1992
On August 9, 1992 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Weatherly 620A, registered N4650W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cobb, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CORRODED, AND SEPARATED, MAGNETIC CHIP DETECTOR PLUG WHICH ALLOWED THE LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL AND THE ENGINE'S SUBSEQUENT SEIZURE. FACTORS WERE THE INADEQUATE 100 HOUR INSPECTION, AND THE HIGH VEGETATION IN THE FORCED LANDING FIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1992 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cobb, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Weatherly 620A
- Registration
- N4650W · no longer on the register · serial 1539
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SEIZED & A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE INTO A CORN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT ENGINE OIL COVERED ITS BELLY. THE CHIP DETECTOR IN THE OIL SUMP OF THE ENGINE WAS FOUND BROKEN, WITH THE DETECTOR ELECTRODE HELD ON BY ITS TRANSMISSION WIRE. THE OPEN DETECTOR PORT HAD ALLOWED ALL OF THE ENGINE OIL TO ESCAPE. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE DETECTOR ELECTRODE REVEALED THAT IT HAD SEPARATED BECAUSE OF CORROSION. THE OPERATOR'S MECHANIC STATED THAT HE USUALLY FOUND ABOUT ONE TABLESPOON OF WATER IN THE ENGINE SUMP DURING 100 HOUR OIL CHANGES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,900 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 11, 1992; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Varner Bass Aviation, INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Leesburg GA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:48 pm from ABY, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4650W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.